Earth's magnetic field provides vital protection

This animation shows how a particular stream of the solar wind sweeps through space, interacting with both Earth and Mars. Credits: ESA

(PhysOrg.com) -- A chance alignment of planets during a passing gust of the solar wind has allowed scientists to compare the protective effects of Earths magnetic field with that of Mars naked atmosphere. The result is clear: Earths magnetic field is vital for keeping our atmosphere in place.

The alignment took place on 6 January 2008. Using ESAs Cluster and Mars Express missions to provide data from Earth and Mars, respectively, scientists compared the loss of oxygen from the two planets atmospheres as the same stream of solar wind hit them. This allowed a direct evaluation of the effectiveness of Earths magnetic field in protecting our atmosphere.

They found that while the pressure of the solar wind increased at each planet by similar amounts, the increase in the rate of loss of martian oxygen was ten times that of Earths increase.

Such a difference would have a dramatic impact over billions of years, leading to large losses of the martian atmosphere, perhaps explaining or at least contributing to its current tenuous state.

The result proves the efficacy of Earths magnetic field in deflecting the solar wind and protecting our atmosphere.

This artist's impression shows the magnetosphere of Mars. Unlike Earth, which has an internal magnetic field, Mars lacks a planet-wide magnetic field so the martian magnetosphere is smaller than the terrestrial one. Credits: ESA

The shielding effect of the magnetic field is easy to understand and to prove in computer simulations, thus it has become the default explanation, says Yong Wei from the Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Germany, who led the study.

Now, by making measurements during a planetary alignment when the two planets were being hit by exactly the same part of the solar wind, the team have proved it in reality.

They now hope to extend their work by incorporating data from ESAs Venus Express spacecraft, which also carries a sensor that can measure the loss of its atmosphere.

Venus will provide an important new perspective on the issue because like Mars, it has no global magnetic field, yet it is similar in size to Earth and has a much thicker atmosphere.

This artist's impression shows how the solar wind shapes the magnetospheres of Venus (top), Earth (middle) and Mars (bottom). Unlike Venus and Mars, Earth has an internal magnetic field which makes its magnetosphere bigger. The lines coming out of the Sun symbolise the outward propagation of the solar wind. The planet’s distances are not shown to scale. Credits: ESA

It will therefore provide unique data to help place the Earth and Mars results in context.

There are a number of upcoming planetary alignments that will provide good opportunities for such studies.

For the next few months there is a good alignment between the Sun, Earth, Venus and Mars, and observations made by many spacecraft, including Mars Express, Venus Express and NASAs STEREO solar observatory, will be analysed together, says Olivier Witasse, ESA Mars Express Project Scientist.

Cluster will continue to play an important role in these studies, too. It is the only mission in near-Earth space capable of taking such measurements.

In addition, scientists are keen to observe how the increase in solar activity associated with the current solar cycle may affect the loss of atmospheric particles from all three planets.

The European family of Solar System missions, with their unique observational capabilities, will play a vital role in studying this behaviour during the approaching maximum in solar activity, says Matt Taylor, ESA Cluster Project Scientist.

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